Lighting fixture



March 15, 1938. G. ARRAS LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed Sept. 10, 1934 Gear 6 arra/a Patented Mar. 15, 1938 UNITE LHGHTHNG FIXTURE George Arras, Chicago, Ill.

Application September 10, 1934, Serial No. 743,333

Ill Claims.

This invention relates in general to a'lighting fixture and has more particular reference to a sign type of fixture embodying a one-piece angle reflector without seams, joints, welds or inlet openings.

An important object of the invention is in the provision of a one-piece angle reflector supported from within the reflector and disposed at such an angle to the support that there is a straight line cut-off of light level with the under side of the support.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a one-piece angle reflector without seams, joints, welds or openings for conductors.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of an inclined angular reflector in which the support extends under the edge of the reflector at one side thereof providing a straight line cut-off of light substantially parallel with the under side of the support so that such a reflector provides a minimum obstruction of view and may be placed close to the edge or" a sign which it is intended to illuminate.

Other and further objects of the invention are to provide uniform light distribution with no highly illuminated spot close to the fixture itself; to provide a sign reflector which is supported by a pipe extending straight out from the edge of the sign with a minimum obstruction of view; to provide a short supporting pipe arm and at the same time to allow wide'spacing of adjacent fixtures as applied to a sign; to provide a simply wired fixture with screw terminals easily accessible when the reflector is removed from the fixture casting; to seal the fixture against rotation on the pipe support; to provide a fixture having correct attachment provisions for lamps of different sizes in the same fixture; and in general to produce the fixture herein shown and described.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. l is a side elevation of a fixture in accordance with this invention as applied to the upper portion of a signboard which it isv to illuminate;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the fixture with the supporting pipe omitted;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the fixture;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the fixture fitting;

Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the attachment of lamp sockets to the fitting in two different positions; and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic representation of the light distribution of a fixture of this type and the angle to the fixture for which the light distribution Chart is made.

In making reflectors particularly of the angle type for signs, billboards, and the like, it has been common practice to connect the reflector proper with a supporting neck of similar material which is formed, joined or welded thereto in a variety of ways and to insert the support as well as the conductors for the fixture through the neck or an extended portion thereof. This construction is objectionable because it is complicated, expensive, difficult to paint or coat it with a reflecting enamel, the offset neck requires a considerable space for supporting it, the paint or enamel is liable to crack and break around the openings through the reflector by which it is connected to a suitable support, and a more or less complicated arrangement of fittings is required to provide for the easy attachment of conductors thereto.

The present invention overcomes the above and other objections by providing a reflector made entirely of one piece, adapted to be inclined to a plane surface which it is intended to illuminate, and having a fitting which is applied within the reflector at one edge thereof for supporting the reflector, and a lamp within the reflector in the opposite or extending portion of the reflector and in such a position that there is a practically straight line cut-off of light closely below the edge of the supporting fitting so that a pipe support extending within the fitting and below the edge of the reflector may extend straight out from the edge of a sign and the fixture will illuminate the sign to the same edge thereof with a minimum obstruction of view of the sign.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, this fixture comprises. a reflector I0 preferably made of a single piece of metal pressed into shape and having no seams, joints or welds of any kind in the body thereof. The open edge of the reflector may be formed with an outwardly turned bead or flange II which is in a common plane and at one end of the reflector is a reduced attachment portion l2 joined to the more flaring portion at the open edge by a wider strengthening flange 43 which takes up some of the material in forming the reflector and greatly strenghtens it.

In the attachment portion I2 is seated a fixture support M having a hollow body portion with a threaded perforation 5 for receiving the threaded end of a supporting conduit or pipe l6 through which extend conductors IT. for supplying current to the fixture. A set screw I8 preferably is inserted from one side of the body portion and adapted to engage the threaded portion of a pipe Hi inserted in the opening for holding the fixture in position with respect to the pipe.

Extending from the body of the support l4 and at an angle to the axis of the opening I5 are attachment yokes 2i] and H, one larger than the other and adapted to fit loosely at the back and front of the attachment portion I? of the reflector. The yoke 28 has perforated openings 22 registering with openings 23 in the end of the attachment portion l2 of the reflector through which extend attachment screws 24. The outer face of the yoke 20 is commonly provided with a protecting gasket 25 and a perforated clamping plate 25 is applied over the outer end of the attachment portion l2 and has an inner protecting gasket 2'! through which the fastening screws 24 also are inserted. An opening 28 is made in the gasket 21 larger than the opening 29 in the plate for receiving the screws 23 to seat therein washers 38 which closely engage the screws 24 and hold them loosely in place in the plate when the plate is removed from the at taching portion it. When the screws 24 are inserted tightly in the yoke 20 the reflector it is clamped tightly between the gaskets 25 and 2'! so that there is no danger of scarring or breaking the inner or outer enameled coating of the reflector by such attachment.

The other yoke 2| extends outwardly and upwardly from a flange 3| and is strengthened by angular corners 32. At the sides of the yoke opening are threaded perforations 33. A lamp socket 34 having a circular central portion and opposite perforated projections 35 is adapted to be seated in the recess of the yoke and to have its fastening screws 36 inserted through the perforated projections 35 either on one side of the yoke 2| as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, or the screws reversed and inserted oppositely through the perforated projections 35 and into the perforations 33 at the other side of the yoke as shown in Fig. 6. This arrangement permits the insertion of lamps 31 and 38 of different sizes so that a concentrated filament 39 thereof will be located substantially at the focal point of the reflector where the highest lighting efliciency will be obtained. By properly proportioning the sockets and the yoke 21 the same support I4 can be used for all the standard filament lamps and a reflector which is suitable for a standard lamp of one size at one side of the yoke 21 will also take the next standard size of lamp at the other side of the yoke simply by changing the socket therein.

In applying this fixture the support i4 is attached to a pipe It in the desired place and locked in position by a set screw la, a socket 35 is secured to the yoke 2! and the conductors ii are easily attached to the socket without obstruction, as the opening of the yoke 20 allows free access to the rear of the socket when the reflector is removed, and after all of the connections and adjustments are made the reflector if! is applied by means of the clamping plate 26 and the fastening screws 24. The reflector is easily applied or removed for adjustment or repair and if placed in upright position the clamping plate makes the reflector a complete protection for the support I l against the weather as well as protecting the reflector itself from rust and corrosion about its openings 23.

In this fixture it will be seen that the focal point of the reflector and the position of a lighting filament 39 at the focal point is directly below the lower edge of the support l4 and substantially in line with the lower edge of the support and the adjacent edges of the flanges l3, as clearly shown in V Fig. 2, forming a substantially straight line cut-off of light from the lamp just below the supporting pipe I! so that this fixture is particularly desired and adapted to be attached straight out from the top or edge of a sign which it is intended to illuminate and the reflector itself is so designed and proportioned that it provides a straight line cut-off of light at the top or edge of the sign when so supported. There is therefore a minimum obstruction of the view of the sign as the lower or projecting edge of the reflector extends only a short distance below or beyond the supporting pipe 16.

As seen more clearly in Fig. 3, the reflector lll flares laterally outward producing a wide dispersion of light so that reflectors of this type need not be placed closely together but permit of wide spacing as shown by a distribution diagram of light intensity as represented in Fig. 7 to be taken at an angle of 45 degrees through the lamp on one side thereof, the diagram showing a remarkably uniform distribution along the vertical and horizontal axes A and B, the axis B in this case representing the top of the sign so that when combined with adjacent fixtures a uniform light distribution is obtained in which there is no bright spot at the top of the sign closest to the fixture.

I claimi 1. In a lighting fixture, a fitting having pipe and lamp supporting portions at an acute angle to each other; a' one-piece reflector having a rounded housing portion to contain an electric lamp mounted in the fitting, a reduced portion at one end to seat the fitting, and opening in a plane at one side with the pipe supporting portion of the fitting projecting from within the reflector beyond the plane of the opening, so that a supporting pipe may be inserted therein at an angle to and below the plane edge of the reflector; and means to provide a straight line light cut-off at the reduced end, said means comprising flanges at the sides of the said reduced portion which are substantially in line with the under side of the fitting therein and an electric lamp inserted in the fitting and located in the reflector entirely within the plane edge thereof having a filament which extends below the lower edge of the fitting when the reflector is inclined, so that the said straight line cut-off forms a light cut-off for said lamp.

2. A lighting fixture comprising an electric lamp, a one-piece reflector having a rounded housing to receive the lamp therein, and a reduced portion at one end with said flanges extending therefrom, and a fitting secured within the reduced portion having a portion which protrudes without the reflector to receive a supporting pipe, the protruding edge of the fitting forming with the said flanges a straight line cut-01f for light from said lamp at the fitting end of the reflector.

3. A lighting fixture comprising a fitting to receive a pipe support, and lamp and reflector supports at an angle thereto, a reflector extending over the fitting with the pipe supporting portion protruding therefrom below the reflector, means extending through the reflector for attaching it to the fitting at the inside thereof, a lamp within the reflector attached to the fitting independently of the reflector, the reflector attaching means comprising a plate for covering the outer side of the reflector against the entry of moisture and fastening means extending through the plate, reflector, and into the reflector supports of the fitting.

4. A lighting fixture comprising a fitting to receive a pipe support, and lamp and reflector supports at an angle thereto, a reflector extending over the fitting with the pipe supporting portion protruding therefrom below the reflector, means extending through the reflector for attaching it to the fitting at the inside thereof, a lamp within the reflector attached to the fitting independently of the reflector, the reflector attaching means comprising a plate and washers attached to the inner side of the plate and to the outer face of the reflector support of the fitting, and fastening screws insertable through the plate, reflector and washers for binding the reflector to the fitting and protecting the reflector at the place of attachment.

5. A lighting fixture comprising a fitting to receive a pipe support, and lamp and reflector supports at an angle thereto, a reflector extending over the fitting with the pipe supporting portion protruding therefrom below the reflector, means extending through the reflector for attaching it to the fitting at the inside thereof, a lamp within the reflector attached to the fitting independently of the reflector, the reflector attaching means comprising a fastening plate and screws insertable therethrough and through the reflector for attaching the latter to the fitting, and washers surrounding the screws between the plate and the reflector for retaining the screws in connection with the plate when it is removed from the reflector.

6. A lighting fixture comprising a fitting having spaced supports, a reflector having its open edge in an unbroken plane attached to one of the supports and extending over both of them, the fitting being located within and attached to the edge of one side of the reflector, a lamp, and a lamp socket therefor attachable to the said other support at either side thereof without reversing the socket or the support, depending upon the size of the lamp to bring its lighting element nearer the focal point of the reflector.

'7. In a lighting fixture, a reflector, a fitting attached to the inside of the reflector and located therein and including a lamp supporting yoke, a lamp, and a lamp socket therefor having opposite projections and fastening means insertable therethrough in opposite directions for attaching it at either side of the yoke Without inverting the socket or the yoke, and depending upon the size of the lamp.

8. In a lighting fixture, a supporting fitting having a hollow body with a conduit opening thereto, and spaced supports extending therefrom with the body opening therebetween, a reflector attached to the outside of one of the supports and surrounding the supports, a lamp and a socket therefor attached to either side of the other support, and conductors extending from the end of the socket between the supports and through the hollow body to the conduit opening independent of the attachment of the reflector to its support.

9. In an electric fixture, a fitting having a hollow body with a conduit opening and spaced yoke supports at an angle thereto and open to the hollow body therebetween, a reflector attached at the outside of one support and overlying the fitting except at the conduit opening, a lamp parallel to the reflector and a socket therefor attachable to the other support, and conductors extending to the socket through the body and accessible between the supports and through the reflector supporting yoke when the reflector is removed.

10. An electric sign fixture comprising a fitting having a body with a pipe opening and supports at an angle to the axis of the opening, a reflector attached to one support and enclosing the other but the pipe opening extending therefrom, a lamp attached to the other support within the reflector, and a supporting pipe attachable to the fitting at an angle to the lamp and reflector such that there is a straight line cut-off of light substantially parallel with the inner side of the pipe from the lamp to illuminate the sign close to the said pipe.

GEORGE ARRAS. 

